Overdose Prevention Kits Available in Superior

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Superior Police Department has a tool to help combat drug overdoses.

For about a year now, the SPD has been carrying overdose prevention kits.

These kits contain fentanyl test strips, a dose of Narcan with directions on how to use it and various community resources as well as treatment referral options.

They hand these kits out for free to anyone who might need them, no questions asked.

“The opiate epidemic in the United States has devastated communities. It’s devastated families in our own community, not only you know, obviously the fatal overdoses that will impact a family forever, but you know, the damaged relationships, the cost to the community and crime to support habits, all of that stuff takes a toll, and this is just one little part in hoping to correct that and hoping to mitigate those things. It’s not the only thing we’re doing, but it is part of it.” Said Paul Winterscheidt, Superior Chief of Police.

They have several other pathways to assist in preventing drug overdoses.

Winterscheidt said they also have a fund for getting people into treatment programs.

That fund is often underutilized because the other pathways available have been successful.

“We want to give people the tools to seek help. Sometimes they’re not ready for it right away, and sometimes it might take multiple conversations. It might not happen right away the first time, but maybe the 10th time it does,” Said Winterscheidt, “We don’t know for sure that it’s making a difference every time, but we do know of several cases where our kits were used to save a life. In one case, a father was able to use it for his son. We try to get these out in as many hands as possible.”

Superior residents who are at risk for an overdose or know someone who is at risk should get one of these kits.

Again, the kits are free, no questions asked.

If you’re interested in an overdose prevention kit, call the front desk of the Superior Police Department at (715) 395-7234